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These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Orion SkyQuest XX16g GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonian Telescope

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A big, 16" aperture telescope designed for maximum portability - both the optical tube and Dobsonian base can be broken down quickly without tools into easily manageable components for convenient transport in any standard size car

Features accurate, motorized GoTo pointing and tracking of over 42,000 celestial objects within its GoTo system database, and enough aperture for great views of each one

Closed-loop electronics forgive accidental bumps and allow the telescope to be moved manually without losing alignment of the GoTo system. Heavy-duty clutches on both axes allow independent adjustment of motion to desired level of resistance

Our largest Dobsonian reflector yet is an ideal combination of three key telescope features: large aperture, convenient portability, and precise GoTo object location. Thanks to its 16" aperture parabolic primary mirror, the Orion SkyQuest XX16g GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonian will astound you with spectacular views of the night sky. Its Orion-designed collapsible Dobsonian base and 8-pole truss optical tube makes transportation of this hefty telescope easy since the entire telescope can be disassembled without tools into small, manageable component pieces that can fit in virtually any standard size car. You'll be able to enjoy the XX16g's large-aperture optics thanks to the accurate, motorized GoTo system which will automatically locate and track any of over 42,000 celestial curiosities within its computerized database of night sky objects.

The powerful, high-tech, and downright BIG SkyQuest XX16g 16" GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonian takes deep-sky observing to new space-penetrating depths. It is the latest and largest in our line of fully automatic GoTo truss tube Dobsonians. For serious amateur astronomers seeking big-aperture exhilaration, state-of-the-art GoTo electronics, and a clever Dobsonian design that is transportable in almost any size vehicle -- the XX16g is an ideal "lifetime" telescope!

Wait, you're thinking, it fits in almost any size vehicle? Yes, you can take this big telescope with you, because both the Dobsonian base and optical tube of the XX16g were engineered by Orion to quickly disassemble - without tools - into easily manageable components, the heaviest of which (base groundplate assembly) weighs 61.4 lbs.

If all you need is to move the assembled XX16g GoTo Dobsonian from garage to yard and back again, we'll have an optional transport solution available soon which allows the telescope to be rolled while fully assembled. Featuring 10" pneumatic tires, this transport solution is particularly useful for moving the assembled XX16g telescope from a garage out onto the driveway or into your favorite backyard observing spot. It obviates the need to disassemble the telescope just to move it a short distance!

Both the 16"-diameter (406mm), lightweight parabolic primary mirror and 91mm minor-axis secondary mirror of the SkyQuest XX16g are made of low-expansion glass and feature enhanced 94% reflectivity aluminum coatings for optimal observing performance. The XX16g delivers a giant 77% jump in light grasp compared to a 12" Dobsonian reflector, and even a sizeable 30% gain over a 14" aperture telescope! Those elusive celestial objects you once considered "faint fuzzies" won't be nearly so faint or so fuzzy through the SkyQuest XX16g GoTo Truss Tube Dobsonian! You'll enjoy views that simply cannot be seen in smaller telescopes.

The lightweight primary mirror cools more efficiently than standard flat-back parabolic mirrors, thanks to its thin, curved-back design. The primary mirror is held in place by an open-ventilation mirror cell which also helps the mirror to acclimate quickly. This special mirror cell features three large knurled knobs for easy collimation adjustments, and can accommodate an optional 12V Three Fan Cooling System (sold separately) for even faster temperature equilibration.

While the XX16g is easy to disassemble for convenient portability, once it's assembled it is a very solid telescope. The rigid 8-pole truss tube provides great structural rigidity of the optical tube and virtually eliminates flexure that can affect 6- and 3-pole designs. The XX16g GoTo Dobsonian base utilizes thick, 1" composite wood panels for extra-strong support, and features perpendicular struts that brace the side panels when assembled for rock-solid performance. All base boards are laminated with water-resistant melamine.

The XX16g's SynScan GoTo system includes a database of over 42,000 celestial objects. Dual optical encoders and servo motors in each axis pinpoint any object you select with the backlit hand controller and track its motion. The closed-loop electronics let you slew the telescope by hand if desired, while still maintaining the GoTo alignment. Heavy-duty clutch knobs on both axes can be adjusted to the desired level of resistance.

If you were to point the XX16g Dobsonian optical tube straight up, the telescope eyepiece would be positioned 72-3/8" (6.03') above the ground. Of course, during most observing sessions the eyepiece will be considerably lower than this maximum height, but no matter where you point the XX16g at night, you're sure to be astonished by the bright, sharply detailed views this amazing telescope provides.

The SkyQuest XX16g comes equipped with a 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser with 1.25" adapter, and includes a 28mm 2" DeepView eyepiece and a 12.5mm illuminated reticle eyepiece for precise GoTo system alignment. Other accessories include an EZ Finder II reflex sight, eyepiece rack, GoTo hand controller bracket, 12V DC power cable, and RS-232 cable for firmware updates. A 12V field battery or AC-to-DC adapter (sold separately) is required for motorized operation.

An optional Light Shroud for the optical tube is also available and highly recommended (Light Shroud sold separately). Keep your XX16g optical tube safe and clean during transport or storage with the recommended optional Case Set (sold separately).

It's a BIG telescope you can take anywhere! Get the Orion SkyQuest XX16g and enjoy jaw-dropping views of the night sky in a big yet pleasantly portable GoTo Dobsonian telescope.

Warranty

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for one year from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.

User level

Level 1 Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, these telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 2 Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 3 Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Level 4 Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece.
Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens.
Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Optical diameter

For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.

For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.

Focal length

The distance from the center of a curved mirror or lens at which parallel light rays converge to a single point. The focal length is an inherent specification of a mirror or lens and is one of the factors in determining resultant magnification for a telescope (along with the focal length of the eyepiece being used).

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration.
Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Glass material

Refractors use glass lenses to focus the light, and the glass material plays an important role in the quality of the resulting image. Standard achromatic refractors routinely use Crown and Flint for the two elements, but more expensive apochromatic refractors can use ED (extra low dispersion) glass for one or more of the lenses. Reflector mirrors are made from glass with different levels of thermal expansion. Standard mirrors are made from material such as Soda-Lime Plate glass and BK-7 glass. Glass with Pyrex or other low thermal expansion material will not change shape as dramatically during the cool-down period, resulting in more stable images during this period.

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Orders received after 1pm will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

A per-item shipping charge (in addition to the standard shipping and handling charge) applies to this product due to its size and weight. This charge varies based on the shipping method.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!